NIPR Launches PRICE Awards to Celebrate Nigerian PR Excellence
By Patience Ikpeme
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has announced the launch of its annual Public Relations, Reputation, Ideas, Concepts and Excellence (PRICE) Awards and Prizes, a new system designed to recognize and celebrate outstanding campaigns and accomplishments in public relations practice across Nigeria.
The maiden edition of the PRICE Awards is scheduled to take place on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
According to the statement issued by Dr.Omoniyi Ibietan,Vice Chairman National Planning Committee, the NIPR envisions the awards as a credible and enduring platform to identify, celebrate, and elevate individuals, campaigns, and organisations that are shaping the public relations landscape across various sectors.
The development of the Awards culminated in September 2025, when the NIPR Council adopted the technical team’s report and its President inaugurated the organising committee.
Inaugurating the 12-member Organising Committee, Dr. Ike Neliaku, President and Chairman of Council of NIPR, mandated the team to create an awards system matching global standards.
Neliaku said: “We have carefully selected you to chart this path for us. Some of you have done us proud on the international stage winning major awards and flying Nigeria’s flag on the global stage. We are challenging you to come and give Nigeria something similar in terms of prestige, class and colour. Now, we are asking you to give Nigeria her own world class Public Relations awards system.”
He further urged the committee to “engage stakeholders, sponsors and partners and organise a world class award ceremony.”
The NIPR President conveyed the confidence that the PRICE Awards will not only motivate professionals, practitioners, and scholars but also enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness in the public relations ecosystem, and strengthen brand equity for all stakeholders, including the NIPR as a leading light of public relations and communication management administration and regulation in Nigeria.
Israel Jaiye Opayemi, a Fellow of the Institute and Managing Director/Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Africa, who chairs the Organising Committee, accepted the responsibility, promising a best-in-class award administration and ceremony.
Opayemi noted that the PRICE awards would indeed be an opportunity for “our own proverbial prophets to be honoured at home.” He drew a direct link between international achievement and local recognition.
“We have been winning international awards and flying the Nigerian flag on the global stage in far-flung places and before a global audience. Now is the time for the best of us to be honoured right here at home and in the presence of the Nigerian people,” Opayemi said.
The PRICE awards will honour outstanding work across the entire range of public relations and communications by celebrating the primacy of strategy, creativity, innovation, and impact. The awards system will also honour emerging public relations talents, such as students and young professionals, with cash prizes and plaques to show the value the NIPR places on creativity and excellence.
Members of the Committee include seasoned professionals and scholars such as Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan (Vice Chairman), Dr. Mary Ikoku, Edemekong Uyoh, Adesola Oyawoye, Odoh Diego Okenyodo, Damilola Olujide, Beatrice Okpara, Prince MG Duku, Chief Patrick Ukah, Mrs. Chidinma Awak (Secretary) and Kater Amos Foga (Assistant Secretary).
